Flexible coupling



Febozii, H934. F, w. PETERS 1348368 FLEXIBLE C OUPLING Filed NOV. 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ZfiZ/ENTOR BY M M A TTORNE y$ 3 F. w. PETERS l,948,6

FLEXIBLE COUPLING Filed Nov. 1 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M W W INVENTOR M /fi'W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FLEXIBLE COUPLING Frederick W. Peters, Cleveland, Ohio Application November 17, 1931iv Serial No. 496,159

'7. Claims. (CI. 64-96) This invention relates to flexible couplings, and the adjacent end of the member 1. The hub 4 more particularly to couplings of the type ems Pr v ded wi h a ra i y x n ng flange ploying a body of resilient deformable material from the outer 'end of which there extends a which is rigidly connected to one of the memf u o-c nical flange 4", he i flange flaring here to be coupled and detachably connected to d a y outwa ly m s o n ct on with the M the other of such members. fl ged and conforming to the correspondingly It is the general purpose and object of the inflared outer portion 3 of the rin vention to provide a coupling of this character p r ng with th l m vi formed which is simple in construction and economical by the flanges 4 and 4 is a clamping ring comof production and which will withstand all the ng the fl nges 7. 7 which are of the same 08 ordinary incidents ofjuse over a prolonged pehape as the flanges nd 4 p c iv y, n rind of tim p which engage respectively the adjacent side and Further and more limited objects of the inthe outer surface 3 of the ring 3. The flange 4 vention will appear hereinafter and will be realis p v d with r e ses 4 for the heads 8 of ized through the construction and arrangement bolts 8, which bolts extend through said flange, (0 of parts shown in the drawings wherein Fig. 1 hrough the ring d through Openings in h represents a sectional view through a coupling flange 7 of the clamping ring, the ends of said embodying my invention, the section being taken ports being provided with nuts 8". on the line 1-1 of Figs. 2 and 3, certain parts In order to reinforce the ring, I h provided being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 a, detail. in secthe same with a reinforcing plate, indicated gen- 16 tion taken on the line 2-2 of 1; Fig. 3 a erally at 9 and having a central openi of detail in section corresponding to the line 3-3 somewhat greater diameter than the external diof Fig 1; Fi 4 a, detail in ectio showing th ameter of the part of the member 1 therewithin. manner of assembling the parts of the resilient It will be noted that this reinforcing plate is deformable body; Fig. 5 a. view similar to Fig. 4 p v ded w th a plurali y of adial grooves 9 showing the manner in which the parts of the extending inwardly from the peripheral portion deformable body and the interposed reinforcethereof, four such grooves being shown, the plate ment are united for vulcanization in a mold; and b ing q li d. having f r m n Fig. 6 a plan view of the reinforcing member. the plate approximating the shape of a four- Describing the parts by reference characters, leafclover. It will be noted further that the B6 1 and zrepresent the-members which are to be plate is provided also with radial grooves 9 exconnected, the member 1 being tubular and hav tending outwardly from the central opening 9 ing securely attached to one end thereof, as by thereof, each groove extending approximately vulcanization, a ring body 3 of deformable recentrally of a segment 9 and terminating short 35 silient material, such as soft rubber, and which of the outer end of such segment. In addition, 00 is capable of being so vulcanized to the member the reinforcing plate is provided with openings 1 or to an intermediate connecting member on 9 for the reception of the bolts 8. the member 1. The ring-like body 3 comprises It will be noted that, when the clamping ring a widened outer portion 3 connected by a re- '7 is secured in place, a space A is provided be-- 0 duced intermediate portion 3" with the widened tween the proximate edges of the flanges 7' 98 inner portion 3 which is vulcanizedto the end and 4, this space serving to accommodate any of the member 1. Where the ring body 3 is vuloutward distension of the part 3 of the body 3 'canized directly to the end of the tubular memdue to setting up the nuts on the bolts 8. ber 1, said tubular member may be roughened in In Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown the manner in 5 order to form a more secure connection between which the ring body 3 and its reinforcement are 1 0 th said body and the said member. applied to and vulcanized in place on the reduced The end of the member 2 which isin proximinner end of the member 1. As will be seen from ity to the ring a r ing end of the m m r 1 is these views. the ring body. prior to its assembly tapered, as shown at 2'- for the reception of a and vulcanization iscomposedof two parts B and hub 4, the hub being secured on such tapered Cadapted, when moved into engagement with the 1 end by means of a key 20 and a nut 5 threaded plate 9 interposed therebetween, to be vulcanized onto the inner reduced end 2 of the member 2.. thereto and to form therewith the reinforced This nut is shown as provided with a spherical body shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that each cxtensionli which is received within and enof the parts B and C is provided with o gages the inner surface of the collar 6 within 10, adapted to register with each other and with the openings 9 in the plate 9 for the reception of the bolts 8 and that each has an annular face and arranged as described and assembled within a mold D, which presses the adjacent faces 11, 11 of the rubber parts B and C into engagement with opposite sides of the plate 9 and into engagement with each other beyond the periphery of said plate, within the inner opening 9 of such plate, and through the: slots 9 and 9 the said parts B and C and the interposed plate may be united into the complete reinforced ring body shown in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious that power applied to either member 1 or 2 will be transmitted through the ring to the other of said members. By narrowing the intermediate portion 3 of this ring body, as shown, the body is made sufficiently flexible to accommodate some variations in and by making the central opening of the plate of greater diameter than the internal diameter of the ring,

the alignment of the members 1 and 2.

It will be noted that the members 1 and 2 may be quickly and conveniently connected through the ring 3 and the clamping flanges 4 and '7 and that the parts may be as quickly and conveniently disassembled should occasion require. It will be noted further that the construction is extremely simple and economical of production.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:--

1. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body'of deformable resilient material having an outer relatively thick peripheral portion, an intermediate portion of materially less thickness and an inner relatively thick portion secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, the said body having embedded therewithin and bonded thereto a radially extending reinforcing plate of relatively stiff material united by vulcanization with the said body, and means for securing the outer portion of the said body to the other member.

2. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body of deformable resilient material secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a radially extending annular reinforcing plate of relatively stiff material and of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the member to which the ring-like body, is secured and being of less external diameter than the external diameter of the said ringlike body, the said reinforcing plate having openings therethrough and being united by vulcanization to and within the ring-like body, and means for securing the outer portion of the said ring-like body to the other member.

3. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body of deformable resilient material secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a radially extending annular reinforcing plate of relatively stifl. material and of greater eter of the said ring-like body, -the said reinforcthereof, the inwardly extending slots altemat- .through the body and through the reinforcing 1,94s,see

internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the first mentioned member to which the ring-like body is secured and being of less external diameter than the external diam- Stl ing plate and the said body being united by vulcanization, and means for securing the outer portion of the ring-like body to the other of said members.

4. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body of deformable resilient material secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a radially extending annular reinforcing plate of relatively stiff material and of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the first mentioned member to which the ring-like body is secured and being of less external diameter than the external diameter of the said ring-dike body, the said reinforcing plate having openings therethrough and being united by vulcanization to and within the ringlike body, a flanged projection carried by the other of said members and adapted to engage the opposite side and the opposite peripheral portion of said body, and bolts extending through such flanged projection and ring and through the body and through the reinforcing plate therewithin.

. 106 5. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body of deformable resilient, material secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a radially extending annular reinforcing plate of relatively stiff material and of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the first mentioned member to which the ring-like body is secured and being of less external diameterthan the external diameter of the said ring-like body, the said reinforcing plate having radial slots projecting inwardly thereinto from the periphery thereof and radial slots projecting outwardly thereinto from the interior ing with the outwardly extending slots and the said plate being united by vulcanization to and within the said body, a flanged projection carriedby the other of said members and adapted to engage the side and a portion of the periphery of the said body, a cooperating flange adapted to engage the opposite side and the opposite peripheral portion of said body, and bolts extending through such flanged projection and ring and no plate therewithin.

6. A flexible coupling for a driving member and a driven member, the said coupling comprising a continuous ring-like body of deformable resilient material secured at its interior to one of said members and projecting outwardly therefrom, a radially extending annular reinforcing plate of relatively stiff material and of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the first mentioned-member to which the ring-like body is secured and being of less external diameter than the external diameter of the said ring-like body, the said reinforcing plate having radial slots projecting inwardly thereinto from the periphery thereof and radial slots projecting outwardly thereinto from the interior thereof, the inwardly extending slots alternating with the outwardly extending slots and the said plate being united by vulcanimtion to and within and substantially midway between the opposite sides thereof, a radially extending reinforcing plate of relatively stifi material united by vulcanization with the said body, the reinforcing plate being of greater internal diameter than the external diameter of the portion of the member to which the said ring-like body is secured and being of less external diameter than the external diameter of the said ring-like body, and means for securing the outer portion of the said body to the other member.

' FREDERICK W. PETERS 

